Egypt rejects Trump’s decision over Jerusalem: FM Shoukry

CAIRO – 10 December 2017: Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said that U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital cast a shadow over the peace process in Palestine, describing the decision as a regrettable shift in the American policies.

In his speech before the emergency session of the Arab League held Saturday in Cairo, Shoukry stressed Egypt’s rejection to the American decision, pointing out that Israel's use of force to impose such decisions as a fait accompli in Jerusalem was illegal. He added that Trump’s move was unilateral and violated international law.

“Egypt was one of the first countries to defend the Palestinian cause since 1948 and always called for achieving comprehensive peace at different international occasions,” Shoukry said.

He added, “It is unacceptable to turn a blind eye on the Palestinians’ right to establish their independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital.”

Shoukry stressed that achieving peace between Palestinians and Israelis is a key Arab strategic choice that comes in accordance with international law and related Security Council resolutions, as well as the Arab peace initiative launched in 2002 based on the “land for peace” principle and the two-state solution.

The emergency meeting of Arab foreign ministers discussed measures that will be taken to deal with the U.S. decision in terms to defending occupied Jerusalem and its legal, historical and religious status.

The meeting in Cairo was called for by Palestinian and Jordanian delegates both concerned by the potential escalation of violence.

It comes amidst rising tensions in different Arab and Muslim-majority countries that witnessed protests against the decision that broke long-standing U.S. policy in the Middle East.

On Friday, two Palestinians were killed in Gaza in clashes with Israeli security forces, on a “day of rage” in protest against the American decision. Rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip into Israel, as thousands of Palestinians took to the streets there and in the West Bank.

On the other hand, U.S. allies, including the European Union, have condemned Trump's decision and said it would hinder peace negotiations in the region.

The Security Council members pushed back against Trump’s announcement on December 6, which also included a vow to shift the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a process that could take three to four years to complete.

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson also attacked Trump’s decision and described it as "unhelpful" for the peace process, echoing British Prime Minister Theresa May, who vowed to confront Trump over his controversial announcement.

Johnson stressed that the U.K. still believes that the status of Jerusalem must be resolved as part of a negotiated settlement between the Israelis and Palestinians.